Back in March, Fiat announced its new MultiAir electro-hydraulic, variable valve actuation technology. Essentially, it's an engine control system that, when compared with a traditional gasoline engine, offers a simpler design, lower power requirements, lower cost, and more modest fuel consumption while improving throttle response.

As GreenCar reports, Chrysler stands to inherit this technology, which will debut on the 2010 Alfa MiTo--and, eventually, be used on a family of small four cylinder engines in Europe (both naturally aspirated and turbocharged). Apparently, MultiAir will bring all sorts of benefits, including a 10 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, a 60 percent reduction in nitrous oxide emissions, a 10 percent bump in horsepower, and a 15 percent increase in low-end torque--hefty promises, but amazing if it all proves true.

The system also helps with cold start and warm-up, with a 40 percent drop in carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbon emissions. Most importantly: a 25 percent improvement in fuel economy, due to the smaller engine size.

The GreenCar report said that systems like MultiAir can be used to "meet increasingly more stringent demands for improved fuel economy and reduced emissions without compromising performance, and indeed often enhancing performance along the way"--and prove that there is still a lot left on the table when it comes to cleaning up and improving regular gasoline engines.

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